THE AURATOR

Book Two

Dark Kill

Chapter One Sneak Peek

Sitting at my kitchen table, drinking my coffee, I wondered whose life I was actually living. It looked like mine...the same one I’ve had for some years now. Same house, same family, same job, but nothing was the same. My whole life I’d been able to see auras around people, a sense of their goodness, or lack thereof. I am an Aurator. This gift—some like to call it my serpodus, but I’d rather refer to it as my curse—has taken control of my life, and has changed who I thought I would be. I looked over and saw my husband and our three girls putting on their jackets, getting ready to leave for the day. It was a particularly cool day in San Francisco for the summertime. I looked out the window to see the fog rolling off the roof and swirling around the fence before dropping into the neighbor’s yard. So much has changed recently. My husband Luke used to be such an amazing man. His aura was so big and bright on our wedding day that I felt myself squinting at times during our vows, and when he reached over to kiss me I actually started sweating from his warmth. What a great day that had been. My parents were so proud because, as my dad had said, “You couldn’t have picked a more honest and hard-working man.” My mom said that she couldn’t have picked a more loving man for me, gushing, “He’s just a saint!” That’s not who he is today, I thought, as I glanced at the dark aura that hugged his muscular build like an ominous shadow. His shadow represents all that is not good in the world, all that I am trying to fight against. Yet here he is, in my life. I wondered what this would mean for us as a couple. Could it change back? And why did it change in the first place? I sighed and took a sip of my now cold coffee and grimaced. My vision blurred for a quick second and then focused on what looked like the commuter train in town. Strange...we almost never ride the BART train system here in San Francisco, so why would I be thinking about it? Then I saw myself running down the center aisle with Aaron, chasing after a dark aura. Another fight? I tried to see who it was , but just as the vision began focusing, I snapped back to reality when the phone rang. Dammit! “Hello?” I tried not to sound too annoyed at the person on the other end while my heart recovered from its rapid beating. “Hi Megan, it’s Max. How are you today?” I took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. Max’s voice had the ability to calm even the stormiest of emotions. “I’m good Max, you?” “Great, thanks. I wanted to talk over a few things. We haven’t really spoken since the pool party. Can you get together later?” The pool party. Visions circled in my head of my youngest daughter Trina swimming in a pool filled with red, the water swirling around her as if lifting her up. The image made me shut my eyes in disgust. I could accept that I was an Aurator...but my daughter? All Aurators have red auras, but Trina’s was so strong that her presence seemed to change the color of the water. Could I really believe that her aura was a sign, that she is to be the one to lead us all against our enemies the Caduceus? She’s still in grade school. This idea is completely preposterous. Then there was the argument with Luke on the way home. He was uncomfortable at Max’s house, and I didn’t help by disappearing to talk shop with Max and Aaron. He had told me, “I don’t understand this new you, the friends, the different personality. I’m trying by coming today, but next time you can count me out.” I remember looking in the rearview mirror to see my girls, who were clearly uncomfortable. Considering the situation, I get why he’s frustrated, but I feel helpless as to what I should do about it. I suddenly remembered that Max was on the line. “Max? Yes, Max, I think we should get together. I have a few questions of my own.” “Well, I’d imagine so,” he said. “We’ve all had some time to think about things but I would like to meet now.” Max’s voice had a tone of concern to it. “Ok, can we make it earlier rather than later? I have to work tonight,” I said. Pulling out my calendar I noticed that I was scheduled for the next six days in a row and let out a low groan. Not that I wasn’t thankful for my job, but with three girls who all want to be in some sort of sport or activity, which all cost money, I needed to pick up a couple of shifts. Max interrupted my thought, “Sure. I want to talk to you about something other than Trina as well.” My interest was piqued. “What?” I heard a snicker from him. “Patience,” he said, “you need to learn some patience. Everything has its time, and there’s nothing you can do to speed that along. Just come over, say in an hour, and we’ll talk. All right?” “Hmmph,” I muttered like a disgruntled child. “Ok, I’ll see you later. Bye.” As I hung up I could hear Max still chuckling in the background. Realizing my family was about to depart for the day, I walked over to them at the front door. As I kissed each girl good-bye, I noticed myself holding onto Trina a little longer than usual. She complained, “Mom!” and pulled away, rolling her eyes. I watched as they all scurried to the car to wait for Luke. I turned toward Luke, my beautiful husband, who moved closer and wrapped his arms around my waist. I took in a big breath and tried to exhale all my worry and stress. I waited to feel the warmth spread over my body as his embrace tightened around me, but instead I felt an urge to push away. He pulled back to look at me and raised his hand to press the worry lines from my forehead. I could see concern creep across his face, so I forced a smile, saying, “I’m ok.” He raised an eyebrow in question. I stared deeply into his eyes to search for a glimpse of the man I married, but I couldn’t help the feeling of despair that filled my chest. I moved away, resisting the urge to cry. Without a word, Luke stepped away from me and walked briskly to the car without looking back. I knew I should feel happy and warm as I watched my family drive away, but all I felt was angst deep in the pit of my stomach. What will happen to us, to my girls? If this genetic mutation that makes us special could have happened anytime in history...why now? I decided to get ready to see Max.

On the road, I realized what a relief it was to be driving to see Max. He was the one person I could count on to help me...guide me. I was in awe that even well into his seventies, Max was still extremely active. As a “semiretired” doctor, not only did he teach at the university in town, he also traveled around the country giving seminars on how to better teach the doctors of tomorrow...which is much needed if you ask me. Oh yeah, and in his spare time he moonlighted as an Aurator, ridding the Bay Area of the evils that attempted to wreak havoc on those who were good. Flashing back to when he, Aaron, and I fought the Caduceus at the Conservatory of Flowers, I remember being impressed by how he suddenly seemed so much younger. I don’t know many men his age who could throw a grown man hundreds of feet into the air and drop him onto a glass building. I chuckled at this thought. Come to think of it, it’s probably not normal to know someone of any age who could do that. Pulling into the driveway I entered the code to open the gate and continued up the drive toward the house. Max and I had not spoken since the pool party, when it became apparent that Trina was destined to be an Aurator. And not just any Aurator, but the most powerful of all. I shuddered, placed the car in park, and shut off the engine. Just then I looked up. Ugh, Aaron’s car was here. Max’s sidekick. He’s a great Aurator but after that awkward moment in Max’s office when I thought he was going to kiss me...well, I could do without seeing him. What a shame. I walked up the grand entryway and, just as I was about to knock, the large wooden door swung open. It was Vivian, Max’s wife. A sense of ease and being at home came over me. I walked in as she welcomed me and reached her arms out to envelope me in a warm hug. I sighed. “How are you, Vivian?” I asked. She moved back from the hug and looked at me. I could see her gaze was filled with concern. “And how are you?” she queried. Okay, so I don’t sound very believable. “I’m ok...under the circumstances.” My head hung. I wasn’t sure what or how much to say. I’m sure that Max tells her everything...but is it okay for me to talk to her? I wanted so badly to speak with someone...a mom, someone who would understand the pain that I feel in respect to my daughters. I wanted my mom. But I was here with Vivian. “Megan?” she pleaded with a soft mother’s tone. I looked back up toward her face. “Yes?” But my voice cracked. I felt the tears welling up as I fought to stay strong. I attempted to back away from her. Somehow it seemed physical distance might make emotional distance easier. But she held onto me. I am strong...I am strong I kept repeating in my head. I can fight the Caduceus...I’ve killed people.... But then the tears began to flow. I felt an ache swelling in my chest as tears streamed down my face. This was not the empathetic crying for someone else’s pain. These were a mother’s tears, fraught with the baggage from years of guilt for relatively small and insignificant wrongs. Forgetting to pick a child up from school once. Missing the onset of a fever when a child was sick. And now, worst of all, not being able to protect my daughters from this life. Trina, with the new responsibility of...all this? And I had no idea what my other two daughters Alex and Abi would be in for. It was all too much, and I succumbed to the pain, sobbing against Vivian’s loving embrace. Some time passed and I eventually ran out of tears. Vivian didn’t let go of me, nor did she try to assuage my fears. She just let me cry. I was able to pull away after some time. I looked up at Vivian, “I’m sorry.” Vivian smiled and placed her hand against my cheek. It felt warm and comforting as I leaned my head into her hand’. “Sorry for what? For loving your children? I would react the same way. In fact I fell apart when Max told me about himself. I worried I would lose him and wondered what I would do without him. I fretted about our sons for years after Max told me this was genetic and was passed down through males. Needless to say, our sons never developed the talents, but...” She paused, and I saw her face turn sad. She took a breath before continuing, “So now I understand that my grandson has this, right?” She looked at me as though hoping I would give her a different answer. “Vivian, I...” She raised a hand and nodded. “It’s okay.” Just then Max walked up to us. He was holding a mug of coffee and stopped abruptly when he saw us. His look mirrored how utterly out of place he felt. “I’m sorry...I must have the wrong...umm....” But as he turned to walk away Vivian rolled her eyes and stopped him. “Max, dear?” she called playfully. “Come on in here, silly.” Max turned back around with a quizzical smile, “Everything ok?” Vivian looked back at me and squeezed my hand. “We’re fine. We just needed a ‘mom minute.’” She turned and, as she walked passed Max toward his study, she placed a soft kiss on his cheek when he leaned toward her. They exchanged a knowing glance, and I could see that, without speaking a word, they had communicated everything they needed to. I sighed and wondered about my own relationship. A wave of sadness washed over me as I realized we might never have what Max and Vivian have. I was snapped from my thoughts as Max spoke. “Well then, Mom. How’s our chosen one?” Closing my eyes and shaking my head, I flashed on Trina’s face briefly before responding, “Very funny.” I followed Max and Vivian into his study, where he motioned for me to sit. Vivian gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and left the room, shutting the door behind her. I relaxed onto his couch and felt comforted by the rich smell of the leather. I looked up and commented, “Hey, moving furniture?” I pointed toward his desk. He sat in the chair across from me. ”Just a bit of cleaning. Viv gets onto me when the piles of paper reach five feet high and begin gathering dust.” I nodded and wished we could talk casually about desks and cleaning rather than Trina. “So,” Max began with a playful grin, “how’s that little girl of yours?” W “Ugh! How can this be?” I asked. “What do you mean?” Max asked. I stared at him in amazement. Really? As a father did he not understand where I was coming from? “I mean, why Trina?” I finally said. “I don’t understand. She’s just a little girl.” Max either noticed my concern or finally got to the “father place” himself. His tone changed from sounding like a victor discussing his spoils to a much more empathetic tone. “Ours is not to ask why, ours is to do what we are here to do.” I felt a sudden surge of anger and sprang from the couch. “No! I don’t want to hear that! This is not her fault...her...responsibility. No!” My voice cracked on my last word, my heart pumping so hard I would not have been surprised if it leapt from my chest. I saw red all around me as I glared at Max. He didn’t move, just stared at me in a way one might look at the criminally insane. “Megan!” I heard in my head. The voice snapped me from my temper tantrum. Rolling my eyes, I told Max, “Nicholai’s here,” as I pointed to my head in disgust. Max drew in his first breath in what seemed like minutes, then took an uncomfortable gulp of his coffee as he waved his hand toward me. “Talk to Nicholai, and then ask him to call me.” But just as I was about to respond, the phone rang. Max stood and grinned as he walked to the phone. “Hello?” It was Nicholai, and I could no longer hear him in my head...nor did I want to. “Yes, I know...I’ve been concerned about this too...I’ll talk to Vivian...ok...hold on.” He set the receiver on the desk and started toward the door. I opened my mouth to speak but Max just smiled and raised a finger to signal “just a minute” and walked out. I noticed the receiver lying on the table and considered picking it up. I got distracted for a quick second when I noticed the coiled cord leading from the receiver to the base of the phone. “Old fashioned,” I thought, but then I noticed at least it was push button and not a rotary dial. I sat down on the couch and waited. Ten minutes seemed to pass like an hour, and I was wondering what possibly could be going on. Finally I heard the door open behind me. Turning, I saw Vivian easing in with Max’s hand on the small of her back, guiding her in front of him. My eyebrows furrowed as she sat down next to me. “What?” I started, but Vivian lightly squeezed my hand and raised her finger to her lips to shush me. I thought I had been patient long enough, but I found it very difficult to deny Vivian anything. My attention was drawn to Max as he picked up the phone. “Nicholai? Yes...I’m sorry it took a while. Vivian agrees with me.” There was a long pause, then Max concluded, “Ok Nicholai. Sounds perfect. We will talk to her about everything, and I’ll let you know when she’s on her way.” He hung up the phone and paused for a moment, pondering something before he turned toward us. Vivian squeezed my hand again as Max walked toward us. He sat down across from us and smiled as our eyes met. I waited but he still didn’t speak. “What?!” I finally blurted out when I couldn’t take the silence anymore. Max chuckled as he leaned forward. “Nicholai and I agree that you should be available to...watch over...your girls. Especially Trina.” I nodded at him. “Aren’t I? I already care for everything they need.” I was perplexed. This felt like an insult regarding my maternal skills. Max’s expression changed as he realized how I had taken his comment. “No, no. Oh I’m so sorry! I know you do a great job with your children. What I...we are proposing is a, well, an arrangement, so you can be with them all the time.” He looked back and forth from me to Vivian. Vivian was now looking at me, too. I glanced over to see a smile on her face. I turned back to Max, “Okay, what kind of arrangement?” “Well, we would like to subsidize your family so that you can care for Trina. And, of course, the other girls.” I must have looked confused because Vivian started talking before I could clarify. “I’m sorry, dear, but the doctor here sometimes does not speak English,” she explained. Max scoffed, but Vivian continued, “You have an amazing responsibility in front of you, and we want to help. Max and I want to financially support you so that you can quit your job and...well...do this Aurator business full time. This, of course, involves you protecting and overseeing your daughters.” Speechless, I stared at Vivian for what seemed like an eternity. Then finally I squeaked out, “What? You want to...support me?” “Yes,” Max stated very matter-of-factly. I looked back at Max. “Okay,” he started, “let me see if I can better explain myself.” He shot a sarcastic look at Vivian, who chuckled. “Megan, we are well-off, and we want to invest in our future, namely you and your girls.” Max kept talking but I tuned out. They want to bankroll me? I wasn’t sure how I felt about this. I had always wanted to stay home with my girls—most mothers would—but it has never been a real possibility. Luke and I have both always had to work to make ends meet, but we were okay with that. I’ve scheduled working the evening or night shift over my career so that our girls never had to be in daycare. But even when I was home, I was tired. Always tired. “Megan?” I looked around. I guess I really had checked out, as I focused back on Max. I felt Vivian squeeze my hand as she asked, “You all right, honey?” Max smiled, “I suppose if someone had suggested I quit being a doctor, I would have had difficulty as well.” I nodded in agreement. “The offer of being available for my girls is, well, tempting. But being a nurse is, well, it’s who I am. At least when I’m not being a mother.” I shook my head, thinking how ridiculous it sounded to have my identity wrapped up in my job, but that was where it was for me. Until this...Aurator stuff, I had never had anything that identified me, just me. My thoughts were interrupted as Vivian spoke. “Or a wife,” Vivian added in a sweet tone, as if reminding me to put my shoes away. My lips pursed at the mention of being a wife. “Well, I don’t know how much that plays into this anymore. I can’t talk to him about anything. He’s not,” I paused, “available to me.” Max shifted forward in his seat. Vivian was about to say something when Max raised his hand for her to wait. “Since we’ve brought the subject of Luke up, we need to discuss him, as well.” I knew that Max did not approve of Luke, considering his dark aura. But I hoped one of his stipulations would not include restrictions around my family life. “What about him?” I asked curtly. Despite my own recent problems with Luke, he was still my husband. And I love him. Don’t I? Max raised his hands in a defensive manner. “Please do not misunderstand my intentions here. However, I do have to voice my concerns. Luke has, well, a different aura than we are used to working with.” I felt my hackles rise as I took a breath to defend my husband. “Wait, Megan,” Max interrupted. “I’m just saying that, well, we need to be careful. Can you take this offer from us without telling him?” Bewildered, I looked back and forth between Vivian and Max. “What? Lie to my husband? Is this what you’re asking me to do?” I stood up, but dropped my head in shame. I realized that I had been lying already by not telling him what had been going on lately. But that was different, wasn’t it? At least I was the one making the decision, not being told to by someone else. Max looked away and rubbed his mouth with the palm of his hand. Moments passed before he turned back and spoke. “Okay, let’s just table this conversation. The offer is out there. But,” he guided me back to the couch, “Megan, I will not tell you what to do, or tell you how to do it. I, we, are trying to help.” Max nodded toward Vivian as she reached out to take my hand again. My gaze dropped as I told them, “I know you both are trying to help. I’m just confused. I think I need some time to think.” Vivian reassured me, “Agreed.”Max cleared his throat, which caused me to look toward him. “Well. Another time then, right?” He donned an uncharacteristically embarrassed, boyish grin that made me chuckle. I stood and smiled at them both. “I really appreciate everything you’re trying to do for us.” They both smiled and Vivian stood to hug me. We said our goodbyes and I started home.

On the trip home, I couldn’t quiet the questions in my mind. Was quitting my job really the answer? I had worked so hard to become a nurse. I love my job and, right or wrong, being a nurse would always be part of who I am. My thoughts drifted to my girls. Do they mean more to me than my job? Yes. This was the easiest question I’ve answered in a long time. I sighed, thinking I needed some clear sign telling me the right thing to do. Pulling into my driveway, my attention was diverted when I saw Luke’s truck. Why was he home? My watch read eleven, not yet time for lunch. I walked inside and called out his name. No answer. I saw his jacket and keys on the back of the couch but couldn’t find him. Climbing the stairs, I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. I wondered if this was my Aurator sensation that something was wrong. Or I could just be hungry since I hadn’t eaten yet today. Shaking this thought away, I called out again, but still no answer. Opening the door to our bedroom, I felt a deep pain stab my chest as I gasped for breath.﻿